Battery-regulator.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR LOWE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.', ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ACOUSTIC COMPANY, OF

JAMAICA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BATTERY- REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1 914.

Application filed July 26, 1913. Serial No. 781,395. I

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR Lowe, a citizen of theUni ted States, and residentof and State of New York, have invented cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in Battery-Regulatora; of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to battery appliances, particularly for the deaf, who are now accustomedtothe use of an electrical telephone outfit by which they may hear ordinary sounds. Generally described, such telephone outfit comprises a sensitive transmitter, a receiver, the necessary cord connections, and a source of current, ordinarily a small pocket battery. It has been found that regulation for different degrees ofdeafness, as well as for different degrees of intensity of sound, is essential or' desirable, and certain plans have been proposed for securing this re lation, being made the subject of a mum er of patents. hitherto proposed make use of resistances either as a separate instrument, or as part of the telephone appliance, the idea sought in all cases being to give as great compactness and inconspicuousness as possible, combined with strength, efliciency and durability.

The present invention provides a regulating reslstance which is extremely compact, and which has the qualities of simplicity and durability.

' Furthermore, the device can be used or not at will in any outfit, or a difierent regulating resistance substituted, as may become desirable by reason of new or unusual conditions, and also in making up an outfit for any particular person.

The invention has several other advan-- removed.

Constructions embodying the invention will include a block 1, preferably of oval outline, this outline being exactly the sectional shape of an ordinary standard pocket bat-tery2 with two cells. This pocket but- The plans tery is indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The battery bushin s 3, 4, by which a plug connection may be irectly made to the telephone instrumentsif desired, are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This two cell battery is adapted to supply the maximum voltage required for any conditions of practice. Also, as part of the outfit, there are illustrated plugs 5, 6, connected to flexible conductors 7, which are joined into a cable 8 leading to the instruments of the telephone outfit. These plugs may be inserted directly in the bushings 3 and 4 of the battery if desired.

The block 1 constitutes the housing and support for a regulating resistance, in accordance with the present invention, for which purpose, in the best constructions, .it is made in two parts 'with a flat lower or bottom plate 9, the block 10' being hollowed out and the two parts connected by screws 11. The block 1 has a plurality of socket holes or bushings 12, as many as desired, preferably arranged in a row or rows across its top face, thesebu'shings having, in the construction illustrated, a flange 13 at one end and annut 14 at the other by which they are secured to the block. Each bushing 12 has a terminal clip or washer 15 held beneath the nut 14 and havin a laterally projecting ear 15 for the attac ment of an electric wire or conductor. 9 has holding prongs 1'6, 17 'in the exemplified construction embodying the invention. at locations corresponding to the bushings 3 and 4 in the battery already described, these prongs being vertically sawed to form split plugs. These holding prongs or plugs are rigidly secured to the bottom plate 9 b nuts 18 and are furthermore provided wit terminal ears on washers 19 held beneath the nuts 18. An electrical connection is made between one of these holding prongs or plugs 16 and an adjacent block bushing 12, the other holding prong or split plu 17 being connected to the next block bus in 12 of the series. The second, third an fourth block bushings 12 are connected to one another through intermediate resistances 20. In order to secure a sufiicient regulating resistance within the small compass afiorded by the interior of this housing, a high resistance alloy is employed, all wires being of course insulatedexcept at the points of their junction with the clips.' In this way all the wires may be connected with their proper clips and placed in their housing before'the two parts of the block are assembled, the assembling being last efiected, whereupon the device is ready for use.

It will be observed that a complete appliance has been provided which can be attached to the usual battery by merely inserting the holding prongs or split plu s 16, 1.7

his not into the battery bushings 3, 4. only mechanically unites the regulating resistance to the battery, but furthermore completes the proper electrical circuits thereof. The usual battery bushings 3, 4 are now covered up, but a new row of bushings or socket holes 12 has been provided into which the plugs 5, 6 of the flexible connection 8 may now be engaged. This plugging may be done at the'two lefthand adjacent holes in Fig. 3, which gives the full battery strength, or one of the plugs may be inserted into a hole to the right in Fig. 3, which gives a greater or less degree of resistance according.

to the bushing selected.

In order to insure a predetermined polarity in the connections the plugs 5, 6 are of unequal size, in the practical construction shown, one being larger than the other, and the left-hand bushing in Fig. 3 is enlar ed to accommodate the larger plug. The ot er block bushings 12 have a size to accommodate the smaller plug 6 which can be placed at will in any of this series. This not only insures a redetermined polarity in the connections, ut also prevents the plugs being located in an) improper manner, because it is always insured that the big plug will be in its proper hole at the left'since it will not fit anyof the other openings. In order to get good-electrical circuits solid plugs 5 and 6 with slight taper are used, which are put in place with a slight twist. This gives an exceedingly good connection, preventing any accidental resistance in the circuit. The two holding prong plugs 16, 17, which fit'into the battery bushings 3, 4, cannot be twisted into place, and for this reason comparatively long straight split plugs are employed as illustrated. The battery bushings have a straight lower portion to receive the straight split plugs, but are somewhat tapered at the top to receive the tapered solid plugs. The battery bushings are furthermore of a size adapted to respectively receive the two solid plugs 5, 6, large and small, the two split plugs or holding prongs 16, 17, being of corresponding size. This arrangement gives all the features of interchangeability first described, but absolutely prevents any connections being made with a polarity different than the prearranged 'polarity, or any improper connections made. 'Thus the de vice can be put in the is of unskilled persons, entirely unfaizmnti with it's prinsibil-ity of incorrect use.

ciples, without instruction, and without pos- Its advantages on the score of simplicity, compactness and durability --will be obvious from the foregoing description, since the complete regu ating resistance adds no noticeable bulk to the ordinary battery. It is furthermore advantageous in the fact that the battery is out of sight anyway and can afford to have an extra bulkadde'd better than can the other "instruments, which are more cons icuous. Moreover, the device, when attache to the battery, becomes scarcely distinguishable therefrom and would not be considered an extra part or appliance from the ordinary standpoint of use. In other words, the regulating resistance is added without formin a distinguishable fourth part of the outlit, which otherwise would increase its apparent complication and therefore be undesirable.

Furthermore, the electrical connections are made'in a very efficient way, without any-of the uncertainty which characterizes some mere contact arms, for example, because the plugs always afford a good connection. The casing of the resistance is preferably made of hard rubber or vulcanite, thereby forming an ornamental cap for the battery of more finished appearance than a relatively cheap discar dable battery will ordinarily possess.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with a battery having terminals, a regulating resistance comprising a block adapted to fit on the top or the battery and having a plurality of bushings, means for connecting two of the bushings to the terminals of the battery, and resistances joining one of said latter two bushings into a series with others on the block.

2. In combination with a battery hav ing terminals, a regulating resistance comprising a block adapted to fit on the top of the battery and having a plurality of bushings, holding prongs for connecting two of the bushingsto the terminals of the battery, and resistances joining one of said latter two bushings into a series with others on the block.

3. In combination with a battery having bushings, a regulating resistance compris ing a blockadapted to fit on the top of the battery, said block further having a plurality of block bushings, split holding "prongsfor connecting two of the block bushbattery, and resistances joining one of said terminal connected bushings 1nto a series with others on the block.

5. In combination with a battery having bushings, a regulating resistance comprising a block adapted to fit onthe top of the battery and having a plurality of bushings one of different slze from the others, for Connecting this bushin and another busliing on the block to bushings of the battery, resistances joining one of said terminal connected bushin into a series with others on the block, the battery bushings further being of unequal size corresponding to the respective sizes of the bushings in th block.

, 6. In combination with a battery having bushings, a regulating resistance com rising a block adapted to fit on the top 0 the battery and having a pluralit of bushin s, means for connectmg two of t e block bus ings to the bushi of the battery, resistances joining one o the said two block bushin intoa series with others on the block, all of said block bushings being tapered,

said battery bushings having partly tapered and partly straight holes.

7. In combination with a battery having bushings, a regulating resistance comprising a block adapted to fit on the top of the battery and having a plurality of bushings, split prongs for connecting two of the block bushings to bushings of the battery,

EDGAR LOWE.

Witnesses:

M. KENDRICK, D. T. MALLORY. 

